Helen E. Pope

Helen E. Pope passed away to be with the Lord on Saturday, March 11, 2006, but her passion for life, education and her faith live on. Helen was the fourth of seven children born to Charles A. Pope and Josephine E. Pope, who immigrated to Hartford CT from Italy in the late nineteenth century. Throughout her life, Helen was a woman ahead of her time. She was a great believer in the power of education. A graduate of Hartford High School and New Britain State Teachers College, with a degree in Education, Helen obtained a Masters Degree in Political Science from Columbia University. During her long teaching career, she touched and helped to shape the lives and characters, of her many students, instilling in them a love of books, fine arts and learning. She taught the dependents of United State Military personnel in Europe while stationed in Naples, Italy and Munich, Germany. She also taught in the Hartford County School Systemand at various colleges and universities in the United States. A free thinker and independent spirit, Helen traveled the world as a single woman, studying art, history and religion. Helen was dedicated and active Catholic and parishioner at St. Timothy's Catholic Church, where she was a lector, Eucharistic Minister and member of the Woman's Club. Her generosity to the church, St. Joseph's College, and her parish, was well known. Helen had many hobbies, and in addition to her interests in travel, art and education, she was a member of the Friends of Mark Twain House and an avid pianist. Helen was preceded in death by her brothers, Salvatore and Donald; and her sisters, Josephine, Violet, and Anne, all of West Hartford. She is survived by her brother, Albert Pope of Altamonte Springs, Florida; and by Laurie Pope of West Hartford, her favorite niece, who out of love and great compassion for her Aunt, took total responsibility for her care. She is also survived by four other nieces; four nephews; and numerous great nieces and great nephews as well as; two great-great nieces. Funeral services will be conducted on Saturday, March 18, beginning at 10a.m. at the Cathedral of St. Joseph, 140 Farmington Ave, and Hartford. Interment will follow in Mount St. Benedict Cemetery, Bloomfield. Family and friends may call Friday, March 17, 5-7p.m. at Molloy Funeral Home, 906 Farmington Ave. West Hartford, CT 06119. In lieu of flowers, the family gratefully requests that donations be made in Helen's name to St. Joseph's College, 1678 Asylum Ave. West Hartford, CT 06117. Online expressions of sympathy may be made at www.molloyfuneralhome.com